Phil saw the girl that morning, vaguely recognizing her as one of the people who lived in the apartments across the street. He wanted to ask her what she’d seen, but then Patty was tugging his arm, telling him she’d call to let the vet clinic know he wouldn’t be on duty that day, and the police officer was saying he could follow the ambulance, and he forgot the little girl. His mother was a very frail eighty five. And she’d been out without his even knowing it.